State order on police associations struck down by high court

Calcutta High Court, on Monday, struck down the order issued by the Mamata Banerjee government refusing to recognise the three associations of police personnel and asking them to vacate their offices that they had set up in public places.

The judge held that the state order was unconstitutional because it had been issued without giving any opportunity of hearing to the police associations to explain their point of view.

Justice Datta, however, held that, in future, if the state wished to derecognise — or refuse to recognise — any police association, it would not exercise its powers without issuing notice to the association and giving them an opportunity of hearing.

In view of this ruling, the police associations will continue to function for the welfare of police personnel.

After the Trinamool Congress came to power, it banned the right of policemen to form their own unions in 2011.

The Paschimbanga NonGazetted Police Karmachari Samiti (PNGPKS) had filed a case in Calcutta High Court, challenging the decision of the state government in this regard.